Commentary: Can Hollywood Really Afford Another Strike?

Posted by Robin Ruinsky (robin@filmschoolrejects.com) on November 22, 2008

Hollywood on Strike

Is SAG itching for a strike? The union plans to launch an “education” campaign to convince its membership to vote to approve a walkout. I guess the idea is to convince the membership that even though the country is in a recession, banks are closing, the stock market is plummeting, companies are failing, that it’s a perfect time to rub salt in the wounds of a depressed Nation and walk away from high paying jobs in the entertainment field.

SAG is trying to get union coverage for all Internet only productions regardless of budget and residual payments for Internet productions replayed online. They also want continued actor protections during work stoppages. Perhaps in a booming economy SAG might have some ground to stand on when it comes to haggling over some of the issues that effect their membership. But during times like these they don’t have solid ground under them.

This move to strike is misguided on so many levels. Not the least of which is at a time when so many people are out of work across the US, when so many are struggling with low paying jobs, SAG which represents its share of millionaires, wants a strike.

It’s a blatant disregard for the realities of the way so many Americans are struggling. Too many people who make up the audiences are collecting unemployment and struggling to pay their mortgages, much less the cable bill so they can get all that entertainment.

A strike won’t impact the actors with the high incomes. It’s the low end people and the production people on films, television shows, any production that is approved by SAG who will find themselves out in the cold.

I just saw read that the union leadership will be pushing for a strike, but I could see this coming with every lengthy negotiation that SAG has entered into and broken off.

There’s certainly nothing wrong with a union going to bat for its membership, trying to protect their interests. But we are living through some hard times and it’s a slap in the face to all Americans for actors who make good money doing something they love to stage a walk out.

It’s also a sign of delusion, in my opinion, to consider a strike at this time. It’s like the CEO’s of the big three auto makers flying into Washington D.C. on private jets to ask for billions in handouts from the government.

There are times you have to look at the times. There are times you have to realize that this is no time for a strike.  The leadership of SAG is way out of line on this. They should have settled their contracts months ago.

They should proceed with caution. The Writers Guild strike resulted in a number of television productions folding costing a lot of people their jobs. And that was before the collapse of the economy left millions of Americans out of work.

SAG should remember the Writers Guild strike cost the Los Angeles area $2.5 billion dollars in income and that was when the economy was better than it is now.

Is this the time for a strike? I don’t think so. I’m a member of SAG and will without hesitation vote No. I’m hoping the majority of the membership also votes against a shutdown that can only have a negative impact on an economy in deep trouble.

Now that I’ve vented what do other people think about SAG pushing for a strike?


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  • andy
    Yeah, talk about a horrific idea.

    I really don't think they're going to get a lot of sympathy out of just about everyone else in the country. My dad is a highly educated man who is completely unable to find a job because he happened to specialize in manufacturing engineering. He's an incredibly hard working, educated man who has done everything in his power to find work. And actors are looking for MORE?!?! I'll play the 80 year old man and say 'they should be damn happy they have jobs!!!'

    And honestly, this may be lame...but we need that entertainment right now. Even though I don't watch a ton of TV, the writer's strike definitely put a hole in my fun last year...I missed some of my favorite shows. I like that feeling of thinking...oh sweet, a new 'office' will be on the Tivo right now. Right now, it's those little joys that pick you up here and there.
  • For every millionaire that the union represents, there are probably 100 people whose yearly incomes would be considered "average." This is a union trying to protect its members; not despite economic crisis, but because of it. Granted, a strike at this time would be horrible, but I don't think what the union is asking for is too ridiculous. They are trying to protect their members from being exploited.

    If anyone wants to point a finger, you can do so at those large conglomerates who own the studios and production houses to give these people their fair share.
  • Robin
    As a member of SAG I understand the need for the union to protect the membership and not to allow the producers to take advantage of a poor economy to get concessions.
    However, to me, a strike at this time would be a disaster to too many people who depend on jobs from productions that would be shut down. The people on the production side, catering, etc, who would really take a hit.
    The union is dealing with internet only productions and trying to extend their reach to that area which is reasonable. But, again, a strike at this time is really not an acceptable bargaining tool in my opinion.
  • PLEASE sign and say no to a strike:

    http://www.petitiononline.com/DealNow/petition.ht...

    Pass it on as well. None of us can afford this! And by "us" I mean all of us. Actors, crew members, producers, associated industries, and the audience!
  • hollywoodland
    Vote NO! During the Writers Guild strike, many small businesses, like hair dressers, make-up artists, personal assistants, restaurants, parking facilities, etc., were forced to close down. They never came back and I don't think Hollywood ever quite recovered.
    I agree with Robin's understanding that SAG need to protect its membership, but this is not the time to make a bad national situation worse.
  • Aleric
    Yeah, after all look at how the strikes have helped Ford, GM and Chrysler.
  • Narc
    Hollywood is runned by STUPID PEOPLE!!!!
  • 790
    If the actors strike I'll be sending you comments from Kinkos.....
  • corymac
    The AMPTP is feeling their oats after their success against the WGA, and rightfully so. As long as they have reality shows and game shows, they are very well-positioned against those who work on scripted shows. In the end, it all comes down to simple numbers: Scripted shows are, at best, performing only as well as reality/game shows. At worst, they're not performing as well. Think of the big shows of today that EVERYONE talks about when they are on: Dancing with the Stars, American Idol, Survivor, The Hills, So You Think You Can Dance, Amazing Race, etc. Desperate Housewives, Ugly Betty, Grey's Anatomy, and CSI might make it in there, only occasionally. As long as scripted shows have consistently lack-luster numbers in terms of viewership, those who work on those shows are in are not in a very good position to bargain. The answer for Hollywood is simple: CREATE BETTER SHOWS THAT PEOPLE ACTUALLY WANT TO WATCH, AND YOU WILL BE IN A BETTER POSITION TO GET WHAT YOU WANT!!! It's not rocket-science.
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